This is a work related question. Reading has no "C" classified roads,only "A" or "B" roads and given the new "Manual for Streets", we want to protect some of our busier non classified roads, by making them classified, ie making them "C" class.

At previous authorities I have worked for, they have already had "C" class roads and this allows greater protection of them from new development.

I am aware if you want to create an "A" or "B" road you have to approach the Department for Transport to release a number and they check to see if the road complies with certain criteria.

What is the process for "C" roads as each authorities numbering is different. Do you have to go to the DfT and ask for roads to classified or do you just make the decision yourself.

Hope this makes sense and any answers would be gratefully recieved.

Regards

Chris

I thought that all "unclassified" roads were C, D or U class anyway but these designations were only for internal reference and are never (supposed to be) shown on signs or maps.

The C road that runs from Handy Cross down to Marlow paralleling the A404 is C100, so that would imply that there's no zone system in place for C roads so given the level of bureaucracy that would be involved in centrally administring such a scheme I doubt there's a central list.

If there was someone could ask for it under the Freedom of Information Act and get a complete list of them.

One of the guys in our office is in this process for Sheffield - His plans certainly show all A, B and C roads - There are some routes that he has asked specifically to rename to - i.e. obvious ones that fill a gap between existing classifications with the same number or to extend an existing number...

However, I'll ask him about new C routes when I see him tomorrow...

They are often shown on large scale maps, I think Lancashire's MARIO shows them.

Also you tend to find them quoted in planning applications - many council websites have a list in the search system for finding planning applications and decisions.

There was something on the Highland Council website about all their C (and U?) roads being renumbered, I think I put a mention on a SABRE forum somewhere.

MB

No, they aren't. Sorry!



You wouldn't get one, I'm afraid! All C, D and U roads are numbered by local authority - there is no central list, and they therefore don't have any zones.

Makes sence... Looking through my list of AADT's for Sheffield... we have the following...

C4x series
C6x series
C108
C3xx series
C4xx series
C79x series

I can't see any coralation in each series, except perhaps that they might have been classified at the same time ??? any thoughts...

It looks like it was once part of a much larger series of numbers, in which case - was it formerly a South Yorks-wide system?

Possibly....

The C4xx series includes old and new roads, the latest one being Donetsk Way, which wasn't built till around 1982, but could have been classified well before that time when the Townships were first palnned in the 1960's and existed before that as the old road through Hackenthorpe

However the C79x series also includes gems such as Flat Street, Pond Street, Windmill Greenway, Moss Way and Norton Avenue, so perhaps might have been after completion of the Bochum Parkway in c1980

I feel an article coming on

Worcestershire's tend to be in the format C2xxx, and generally tend to be higher-quality 'unclassified' roads, at least S2 in width and actually going somewhere (e.g. Wilden Lane: Hoobrook to Stourport via Wilden) - the kind of road OS maps tend to label as light orange (as opposed to B-class dark orange).

Below C class, depending on which local authority you're in, you might get D class, U class, as well as UC class. On the other hand, if you're in Gloucestershire you'll find the roads don't have a prefix letter, and are referred to in public notices as "the road known as number 12345" (that is, known to someone in the planning department - I doubt locals know it as that!).

Blackburn with Darwen has the C612-620...

There are probably more, but these are the ones I've found evidence for in Notts.

C3 – Stragglethorpe Road, Cotgrave
C3 – Burntstump Hill
C9 – Main Street, Calverton
C16 – Main Street, Lowdham Lane, Lambley
C63 – Park Lane, Lambley
C168 – Manor Road, Carlton (ex-B686)
C171 – Porchester Road, Mapperley
C169 – Station Road, Carlton (ex-B686)
C213 – Papplewick Lane, Station Road, Hucknall
C221 – Portland Road, Nottingham Road, Hucknall (ex-A611)
C224 – Gin Close Way, Main Street, The Lane, Awsworth (ex-A6096)

Two C3s! Well, one is in Gedling and the other in Rushcliffe.

We have M, A (T), A, B, C in our large LA boundary, then depending on which area you're in it's either D, K, or my area Q.

And if we ever put out closure notices we always refer to the roads by their internal names e.g. The Q11 will be closed form its junction with the C25 to its junction with the A919. Which is a real example from a few weeks ago.

Or alternatively that Sheffield MBC have simply inherited numbers from the pre-1974 local authorities that covered the same area? In whichcase it's possible that there's a whole pan-West Riding system, or at least one that allocated groups of numbers to particular local authorities.

Thanks for all your advice. I have managed to get a contact at the DfT in charge of Road Classification, so i will phone him later to see if he can give further advice. If he does i will post it here.

Had fun at the DfT enquiry desk, where the operator said "C" roads are you refering to congestion charged roads.

I have just had a discussion with the top DfT man on Road Clasification. He confirmed that for "M", "A(M)", "A" and "B" classifications all requests go through the DfT to see if they are acceptable and if they are a number is alloted to the road.

However for "C" class roads it is for the Local Highway Authority to make the decision on which roads it wants classification and then come up with its own numbering system, which it then approves through its own politcial process.

Therefore I am in the great postion of producing the numbering system for Reading and my initial thoughts are to base it on a zonal system depending if a road is in the North, East, South or West of the town.

Obviously once approved, I will post the approved "C" road list here.

Thanks again for all your previous comments

You should create a C6144 that links all the Reading Sabristi (perhaps with an odd spur here or there).

Not to mention a C5156 to keep the other Chris happy.

How about posting your final draft for approval here first before you get it approved by the council?

Hurrah! The first step towards SABRE becoming the body in control of all British transport!

A few more highway officials checking their plans on here and we'll be well on the way